Ghetto Reverse Applique

I have taught two art quilt classes this year.  In January, I taught Kawandi style.  In March, I taught a cut-layers technique, that I call ghetto reverse applique. The fun thing about it is, you can create simple, yet eye catching, art quilts using this technique.  Simplicity is the key.  

For the class I prepared a piece with two layers of fabric beneath the top layer.  The top layer becomes the background, to the parts you decide to "cut out".  This was a gold square of fabric, which I stitched my design on top of, then I cut out parts of the design revealing colors from beneath.  I used this piece to show attendees how to use a pin to lift the top fabric, then snip a little hole in it, so as to start removing some fabric to reveal the next layer down.

I did this one a week or so later, as I had used these fabrics in class just to show how contrasting fabrics work best and that you can get away with using a non-bleed-through Sharpie marker to draw your letters on.  When you sew around your letters, twice, with black thread, you do not see the marker marks.  I decided I needed a cat under my words, so I found apiece of fabric I had purchased in Germany with big cats on it.  It was perfect!  These simplistic, but graphic art quilts are fun and easy to create.  So, get off the computer and go make one!

Quilt for Foster Boys

My friend, A, and I pieced a larger than average quilt top together.  As she likes to say, some of the teenagers are rather big boys.  We want to make sure they get a quilt big enough to cover them, which is also nice to look at and cherishable.  My quilt group experience has been that most of the quilters are women.  Some of them do have sons and grandsons and sons-in-law, so masculine quilts show up occasionally.  Many quilters, like myself, just love quilting and do not require someone to give the quilt to as a reason to make one.   I had to pay special attention to the fabrics, so they would not be deemed too feminine.  Most of these fabrics were donated, by Phyllis O., to our quilt group for donation quilts.

We did use one of those three-yard quilt patterns, which was provided by our quilt group.  I doubled it up, so as to make it bigger; big enough to fit a twin-size bed at least.  I apologize for the darkness of the photo.  I did not notice until after the quilt was donated.  Too late!  It is a fun quilt, made with some care, and with good fabrics.